Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Mark Canton, chairman of the 12th Annual Capri, Hollywood International Film Festival, has received word that Lindsay Lohan plans to be among the celebs arriving on that Italian isle for the Dec. 27-Jan. 2 event — a fact that, in and of itself, assures boatloads of press.

No, it doesn't seem to matter that what Canton terms "the small but mighty" festival is being held New Year's weekend in terms of attracting star power — what with honorees Paul Verhoeven and Dennis Hopper, and attendees including Hayden Panettiere, Christopher Lee, John Malkovitch, and directors from Terry Gilliam and John Irvin to Shekhar Kapur and Claude Lalouche. The films and previews slated include Canton's own "The Spiderwick Chronicles."

He tells us he'll be doing a presentation of his Feb. 15-debuting movie that's based on the bestselling children's book series about three children who face off against goblins and other magical creatures. Star Freddie Highmore will be on hand. "Freddie has really become the go-to guy in his age range," notes Canton of the 15-year-old "August Rush" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" lead. "There are some young people on the scene today who can really act, like Dakota Fanning and Freddie." Canton, the producer and former long-time studio chief (his latest hit was the bloody, blue-screen sword 'n' sandals phenom "300") knows there's bound to be a great deal of talk at the fest about the industry's strike strife.

"It impacts the entire world, which we should never lose sight of. Without being too technical about it, it's a matter of support. Talent seems to support each other no matter where they're from. So you're not going to find filmmakers from either side of the Atlantic crossing picket lines," he adds.

Meanwhile, there's Capri, "a little island that, by the way, ain't a bad way to spend New Year's Eve." Plus, he notes, "Lina Wertmuller is coming. That's the one person I can't wait to meet."

YULE LOG: Cameron Diaz plans to "see my family in town" on Christmas. The L.A.-based star, who voiced her Princess Fiona character on ABC's delightful "Shrek the Halls" holiday special this year, adds, "I love Christmas because of the way it promotes everyone coming together, friends and family.

It's also because it's a time-out." Diaz is among the notables who've used their celebrity to spread cheer, quietly visiting children's hospitals. She says, "It's a fortunate position to be in. I try to use it wisely."

"We get Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off and I'm really looking forward to it," says Jennifer Garner, currently trodding the Broadway boards in "Cyrano de Bergerac" with Kevin Kline. She'll be spending the holiday with husband Ben Affleck and 2-year-old daughter, Violet, of course.

Marcia Gay Harden, her husband Thaddaeus Scheel, 9-year-old daughter Eulala and 3-year-old twins Julitta and Hudson will be heading to their mountain getaway for Christmas. "We have a little tree here in Harlem, where we live," says the actress. "We'll have a bigger one when we go up to the Catskills for the holidays. My sister will be coming up from Texas. We're hoping the lake there will freeze, and then we'll have a skate party New Year's Eve when NPR broadcasts the waltzes from Vienna."

WHEN FAMILY CALLS: "The Sarah Silverman Project" regular Laura Silverman is trekking to Israel to see her sister, Rabbi Susan Silverman, and family this week — and says the increasing turmoil in the Middle East didn't make her think twice about going. "They live in the country on a kibbutz, and I feel very safe. It's kind of a nice idyllic life for a kid. There's a lot of freedom, they can run around outside, they have a whole community of people looking after them. Yes, there's the occasional bombing, but there's little to no street crime or anything like that. You don't see homelessness. You don't see begging. It's exactly like a really very well run country." She adds, "The kibbutz where my sister lives has taken in several Sudanese families, which really moves me because Sudan is the sworn enemy of Israel but nonetheless the Israeli people are taking them into their homes and they're being integrated into society. They want them there, and they're doing everything they can to allow these people to make Israel their home."

For her part, traveling all the way around the world to see her nieces and nephews "is worth it. My sister has five children — 14, 12, 8, 5 and 4, and I feel like they don't know me that well though I was there last Christmas. I just miss them so much. I can't wait to just go and chill and play with the kids."

With reports by Stephanie DuBois and Emily Fortune Feimster.

To find out more about Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith and read their past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2007 MARILYN BECK AND STACY JENEL SMITH

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